Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 9% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$3.56 Rp 64.3K

229.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$719

$32.73 Rp 590.3K

27.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$4.95 Rp 89.2K

114.95%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$60.8

$2.71 Rp 48.9K

29.89%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 MX$26.09

$1.34 Rp 24.2K

12.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.82

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

38.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.0

$2.92 Rp 52.7K

1.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.0

$3.96 Rp 71.4K

12.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.90

$1.81 Rp 32.6K

-23.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.69

$2.52 Rp 45.4K

-25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.29

$1.16 Rp 20.9K

41.38%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.30

$2.46 Rp 44.4K

2.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$14.71 Rp 265.3K

-43.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$144

$4.32 Rp 77.9K

93.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$185

$12.14 Rp 218.9K

-11.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.00

$3.84 Rp 69.3K

-32.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.18

$1.56 Rp 28.1K

-6.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.84

$2.83 Rp 51.1K

-32.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.88

$2.33 Rp 41.9K

-10.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.68

$1.91 Rp 34.5K

-6.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.76

$2.20 Rp 39.7K

-0.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$17.97

$1.01 Rp 18.3K

2.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.60

$0.78 Rp 14.0K

38.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.5

$3.32 Rp 59.8K

22.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$178

$23.74 Rp 428.0K

-56.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.59

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

-38.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.50

$2.86 Rp 51.6K

-9.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.81

$0.27 Rp 4,848

88.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$457

$8.03 Rp 144.8K

229.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.4

$0.46 Rp 8,230

608.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.05

$0.45 Rp 8,116

453.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.1

$6.10 Rp 109.9K

-46.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.59

$0.79 Rp 14.3K

65.82%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.3K MX$523.2K

$26.1K Rp 471.6M

15.79%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.4K MX$404.9K

$32.1K Rp 579.2M

-27.05%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.9 MX$1,432

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

3.67%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$22.22 MX$384

$4.06 Rp 73.3K

447.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$507

$23.52 Rp 424.1K

24.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$892

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-47.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$6.63 Rp 119.6K

176.32%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.5

$4.15 Rp 74.8K

22.17%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$201 MX$3,470

$304 Rp 5.5M

-33.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.1K

$6,613 Rp 119.3M

-21.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$638

$55.5 Rp 1.0M

-33.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$688

$38.31 Rp 690.9K

3.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,356

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

-11.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,505

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

11.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.8K

$1,006 Rp 18.1M

-3.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,082

$675 Rp 12.2M

-30.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$3,442 Rp 62.1M

-52.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.1K

$2,039 Rp 36.8M

-40.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.2K

$2,841 Rp 51.2M

38.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.3K

$2,264 Rp 40.8M

187.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$165 Rp 3.0M

301.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

13.28

-14.01%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 302% higher in Playa del Carmen, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Playa del Carmen vs $302 in Ubud, Bali – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Playa del Carmen vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,129 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,297 in Playa del Carmen and $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 230% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.